In a recent interview with Legal Newsline, Kroger said the Oregon Department of Justice has a "new-found emphasis" on criminal enforcement of the state's environmental laws.

"This is a very significant priority for us," Kroger said. "We've formed a new partnership with the Department of Environmental Quality and we're very interested in aggressive enforcement of our environmental laws."

Kroger had asked the Democrat-led Oregon Legislature for $500,000 in annual funding for the environmental crimes unit. But the Legislature, which is grappling with a $3.85 billion revenue gap for the biennium beginning July 1, said the attorney general could use existing funds for the new unit.

The environmental crimes unit will start with one prosecutor and one investigator, the attorney general's office said.